Trailer Hook VS Just Using Longer Hook

[LrgmouthShad]

Some spinnerbait bites are subtle. Usually those are bigger fish

[Zcoker]

24 minutes ago, Kites R4 Skyfishing said:

For all of you who use a trailer hook, do you ever fish a swim jig? Just seems like a concern about short strikes would carry over to swim jigs where I've never heard of a trailer hook being used.

 

No trailer needed. I toss them around the edge of cover with excellent results. I get big fish on the swim jig, 6lbs and up. All my swim jigs are tied on with 50lb strait braid. About all I do to them is cut down the weed guard or fan the guard out. I don't necessarily swim them like a spinnerbait but fish them almost like a plastic worm, concentrating more on the speed of the drop, which can be altered by the plastic trailer. Only a matter of a few cast before I get that very pronounced THUMP! 

 

The only other swimming style jig that I use is a chatterbait.....same as the spinnerbait, it always wears a trailer hook! 

[Catt]

On 10/26/2023 at 4:14 PM, Catt said:

One should be able to feel the change in vibration before the bass actually makes contact with the spinnerbait, the same thing holds true with crankbaits. 

 

The key is to keep cranking & resist the urge to set hook. 

 

Apparently from the text & PMs I received y'all can't feel that?

[Aaron_H]

20 hours ago, Captain Phil said:

 

For some reason totally unknown to me, Florida bass do not seem to like traditional jigs.  I have bought boxes of them and have never had much success.  I see Pro anglers catch bass on TV with them in tournaments, but I can't. Our bass seem to prefer soft plastics over hard jigs.   We don't use trailer hooks on those baits as bass hang  on to them longer.  One thing I have learned is to always check my lure after it hits bottom before I move it.  This is especially true when flipping and pitching.  

 

If you are asking about blade jigs, I have never used a trailer hook on one of those as they are normally more compact than a spinnerbait.  I honestly don't think bass know what a spinnerbait is when they strike it.  They see the flash and feel the vibrations.  Perhaps that's why they short strike them on occasion? 

 

This is slanderous! 😂 My once-upon-a-time PB (7lb 15oz) was on a jig, and it's been responsible for a good number of 5lb+ fish for me since.

[Captain Phil]

5 hours ago, Aaron_H said:

 

This is slanderous! 😂 My once-upon-a-time PB (7lb 15oz) was on a jig, and it's been responsible for a good number of 5lb+ fish for me since.

 

Must be something we are doing differently?  Most of the vertical bass fishing I do is in heavy cover.  I can't seem to get a bulky jig to drop through the cover the same way an oiled up soft plastic does.  How do you get a jig through thick hydrilla?

[LrgmouthShad]

@Captain Phil are we talking mats? I fish a hydrilla gorilla lake predominantly and I really like jigs. I’ll be surprised if anyone here fishes a lake that has more hydrilla than mine

[Aaron_H]

3 hours ago, Captain Phil said:

 

Must be something we are doing differently?  Most of the vertical bass fishing I do is in heavy cover.  I can't seem to get a bulky jig to drop through the cover the same way an oiled up soft plastic does.  How do you get a jig through thick hydrilla?

 

That's the neat part, I don't! Looks like we are fishing them differently, I tend to focus my jig fishing around hard cover, especially wood.

[1984isNOW]

5 hours ago, LrgmouthShad said:

I’ll be surprised if anyone here fishes a lake that has more hydrilla than mine

Dude I'll post a pic, I yak in a place where each swipe of the paddle lifts and swirls pounds of the stuff.

 

I don't usually get nervous on the water, but the thought has crossed my mind if I ever tip into that pond I might get so wrapped up so quick it might weigh my vest down and I'll be nappin with the fishes

[LrgmouthShad]

20 minutes ago, Kites R4 Skyfishing said:

Dude I'll post a pic, I yak in a place where each swipe of the paddle lifts and swirls pounds of the stuff.

 

I don't usually get nervous on the water, but the thought has crossed my mind if I ever tip into that pond I might get so wrapped up so quick it might weigh my vest down and I'll be nappin with the fishes

Some photos from Cedar Gap Park this summer. The mats are tremendous, yes, but what is incredible is how deep the stuff grows. I graph it in as much as 28-29ft 

[Catt]

I fish a little pond called Toledo Bend, it has a grass flat or two. 

[Captain Phil]

I have always considered a bass jig a northern bait.  In all my years of bass fishing in Florida, I have rarely seen anyone fish with one.  I am sure my lack of success with jigs is due to a lack of confidence on my part.  If I had fished them more, I would probably have a different view.  Water temperature has a lot to do with this.  Soft plastics are available in many different configurations, all of them have more action when the water is warm.   A 6"-8" Zoom Speed worm or Mag II looks to have more bass appeal than a hard jig head and skirt.  I am not a bass, so my idea of bass appeal could be much different than it is. 

 

When flipping and pitching, I believe the drop is the most significant factor.   A soft plastic bait slides through cover much easier and faster than a jig with a weed guard.  It pin-balls down into the cover bouncing off everything on the way down.  I can't see a jig with a weed guard coming close to this. Soft plastic baits are more versatile. They are available in dozens of configurations from straight worms, craws, lizards to creature baits. Their weight can be adjusted from none to over any ounce.  

 

Obviously you can attach a soft plastic to a jig, but what's the point?  I did catch a bass once in a Florida tournament with a jig.  It was a very cold day on the Kissimmee Chain and I was fishing a canal with rocks on the side.  It was so cold, my worms looked like sticks.  I pulled out a black and blue jig and a three pounder ate it. So much for my jig theory!  In my years as a guide, I have seen folks catch bass on things that I was sure were a waste of time.   I had to eat these words many times, "Florida bass won't eat that!".   😉

[Mike L]

I also don’t even think about using a jig down here. I have a box full of them but leave them home unless fishing a tournament north of the state line (except for certain stretch’s of St Johns)

 

There are always better choices for me fishin vertically, especially for punching and sight fishin beds in any type of grass. 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

 

[Catt]

The Jig is one of the most productive lures for fishing heavy cover of any type known to anglers.

 

The Jig is one of the most productive lures for catching larger than average bass.

But despite its pure awesomeness the angler must keep in mind there will be days when the bass simply do not want a jig.

 

So to all the young anglers (not chronological but experientially) struggling when casting, flipping, pitching, or punching with the Awesome Jig keep in mind there will be times when the Jig aint gonna be that AWESOME

[Zcoker]

1 hour ago, Catt said:

 

The Jig is one of the most productive lures for catching larger than average bass.

 

 

So true. You may not get as many hits on a jig but when you do, hold on! Coupled with the right trailer, they are truly deadly. 

[Mike L]

Apologies to the OP for contributing to derail this thread into a jig discussion. 
 

To get it back on point, a trailer hook on a swimming lure is intended to snag a short stricker. 
There’s a lot going on with a spinner bait as opposed to a swim jig, which in my opinion is why it just makes more sense to use one as opposed to a compact single hook swim jig. 
 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[1984isNOW]

1 hour ago, Mike L said:

Apologies to the OP for contributing to derail this thread into a jig discussion.

No apologies needed homie, sometimes the natural discourse of a thread lends itself to parallel conversation. It All still relates somehow, otherwise it wouldn't have come up. I'm happy to hear what you all have to say about anything fishing.

 

Jig+blade(above jighead)= spinnerbait

Jig+blade(on head)= chatterbait

Jig+blade(blade on water surface)=buzzbait

Jig+blade(beneath head)=underpin

Jig+swimbait trailer=swimjig

Jig-skirt+straight tail worm=shakyhead

Jig+creaturebait=jig (explain that paradox)

Jig-skirt+creaturebait=pegged t rig

Jig+a few shots=me lettin my Irish side out

 

The jig really might be the most versatile lure there is.

3 hours ago, Catt said:

there will be times when the Jig aint gonna be that AWESOME

Doesn't that apply to every technique? I mean some days a spinnerbait slays, some it's just lame, one day they're hitting the crankbait next they must have voted it off the island.

 

@LrgmouthShad mine are already dark brown and water levels are up, I'll hit you back in the summer,  but that's definitely gnarly bro. It's extra fun when the lilies matt up right against the milfoil and there's a chunk of the two all blended and extra nasty.

[LrgmouthShad]

Few things are certain in life. Some are: death, taxes, and me fishing with texas rigs, jigs, and spinnerbaits. 

[WRB]

When you keep reeling a Spinnerbait or crankbait you will know it’s a bass when it turns and pulls back then keep reeling and sweep the rod back. Largemouth bass aren’t called bucket mouth for nothing.

Tom

[Munkin]

On 10/27/2023 at 3:09 PM, Kites R4 Skyfishing said:

@Catt I'm not sure I understand what you mean, what would be changing if the bass hasn't actually hit it yet?

 

For all of you who use a trailer hook, do you ever fish a swim jig? Just seems like a concern about short strikes would carry over to swim jigs where I've never heard of a trailer hook being used.

 

Swim jig is just a bladeless spinnerbait for clear water.

 

Allen

[1984isNOW]

Here's a wrench for this system-

 

All of your preferred trailer hook sizes?

 

Different between spinner buzz and chatter?

[Zcoker]

All my baits, spinnerbaits buzzbaits and chatterbaits get a 2/0 trialer hook. Most big girls that I bring in are hooked solid with the trailer...and only the trailer. Is why I never leave home without them! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[1984isNOW]

2 hours ago, Zcoker said:

why I never leave home without them! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Think I might hate you just a little bit... nice fish man 😉

 

I'm still so torn... if it's the trailer hook movement that helps (along with the distance behind the head and blade obviously)

 

What about a set up so the hook is free swinging well behind the blade and the skirt is just short of the hook? (Like a trailer hook would be)

[Zcoker]

16 minutes ago, Kites R4 Skyfishing said:

Think I might hate you just a little bit... nice fish man 😉

 

I'm still so torn... if it's the trailer hook movement that helps (along with the distance behind the head and blade obviously)

 

What about a set up so the hook is free swinging well behind the blade and the skirt is just short of the hook? (Like a trailer hook would be)

Lol there's some bigguns down her in south Florida! Lotta opinions out there with trailer hooks. Gotta use what you have confidence in. In my case, I have high confidence in trailer hooks, especially fishing down here in the everglades. I've lost a number of nice fish without using a trailer hook, fish so big that the big open whites of their mouths are still visually as plain as day. That doesn't happen so much anymore, hardly at all, as a matter of fact. And the only thing attributed to that (for me) is the addition of a trailer hook on those baits mentioned here. 

 

Now, as far as free swinging goes, that may have something to do with holding the fish, possibly. Free swinging may be a good thing when a bass comes out of the water widely. Something rigid may give the fish more leverage to toss the bait. All I can say is that free swinging trailer hooks seem to hold the fish much much better than the standard rigid hooks. When I net these fish and go to remove the hook, it's most always the trailer that has them pinned.

[Captain Phil]

25 minutes ago, Zcoker said:

Now, as far as free swinging goes, that may have something to do with holding the fish, possibly. Free swinging may be a good thing when a bass comes out of the water widely. Something rigid may give the fish more leverage to toss the bait. All I can say is that free swinging trailer hooks seem to hold the fish much much better than the standard rigid hooks. When I net these fish and go to remove the hook, it's most always the trailer that has them pinned.

 

I have tried both free swinging and pegged trailer hooks.  I hook more bass on a free swinging hook.   Your results may vary (disclaimer) ...   😉

[Zcoker]

41 minutes ago, Captain Phil said:

 

I have tried both free swinging and pegged trailer hooks.  I hook more bass on a free swinging hook.   Your results may vary (disclaimer) ...   😉

 

I totally agree. Free swinging is the way to go. My method of securing them, lady’s earring holders lol